POPE SPEAKS ON THE INDISSOLUBLE BOND OF MATRIMONY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 21, 2000 (VIS) - Today, as is traditional at this time of year, the Pope received members of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota for the occasion of the start of the juridical year.

In his talk, the Holy Father recalled the doctrine concerning the absolute and indissoluble nature of ratified and consummated matrimony. He contrasted this with the "'mistaken theoretical and practical concept of the independence of the spouses in relation to each other' (which has an effect on) 'the growing number of divorces'."

He went on: "'The indissolubility of marriage finds its ultimate truth in the plan that God has manifested in His revelation: He wills and communicates the indissolubility of marriage as a fruit, a sign and a requirement of the absolutely faithful love that God has for man and that the Lord Jesus has for the Church'."

Quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Holy Father stated: "'The Church maintains, through faith in the Word of Jesus Christ, that a new union cannot be recognized as valid, if the first marriage was (valid)'."

"The declarations of nullity for reasons laid down in canon law, especially due to defects or errors in matrimonial consent, cannot however conflict with the principle of indissolubility. It is undeniable that the current mentality of the society in which we live has difficulty in accepting the unbreakable nature of the matrimonial tie. ... Nonetheless, this genuine difficulty is not equivalent 'sic et simpliciter' to a concrete refusal of Christian marriage and of its essential qualities. Even less does it justify the supposition, unfortunately at times postulated by certain tribunals, that the prevalent intention of spouses - in a secularized society beset by strong currents in favor of divorce - is to seek a breakable marriage link, to the point that (these tribunals) demand proof for the existence of true consent."

The Pope went on to deal with the topic of the Supreme Pontiff's authority in relation to ratified and consummated marriage, underlining that even the power of the Pope cannot dissolve the link: "To sustain the opposite view," he explained, "would imply the idea that absolute and indissoluble marriage does not exist. This would be contrary to the meaning of what the Church has taught and still teaches about the unbreakable bond of matrimony."

The 'sacra potestas' of the Roman Pontiff, he added, "does not include any power over divine, natural or positive Law. ... Consequently, it is clear that the non-extension of the Pope's authority over sacramental, ratified and consummated marriage is a fact taught by the Church's Magisterium as a doctrine to be considered as definitive, even though it has not been solemnly declared in a defining act."

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 21, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Msgr. Raffaello Funghini, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, accompanied by the judges of the same tribunal.
- Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum."

This evening he is scheduled to receive Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

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HOLY SEE TO BE REPRESENTED AT WTO MEETING

VATICAN CITY, JAN 21, 2000 (VIS) - Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See permanent observer to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), will attend the First Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the WTO, which will be held in Madrid, Spain, from January 24 to 27. The International Tourism Fair will also be held in Madrid during that period.

Msgr. Monni is scheduled to address the participants on Tuesday, January 25. A note from his office announcing the Madrid meeting also lists some of the themes which will be discussed over four days. These include: an examination of the methods of modernization of the WTO, an analysis of the new role of the private sector within the WTO, and an evaluation of the opportunity to create public-private partnerships aimed at realizing the goals of this multilateral and intergovernmental organization which is closely linked to the United Nations.

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HOLY FATHER BLESSES LAMBS ON FEAST OF ST. AGNES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 21, 2000 (VIS) - In liturgical memory of the virgin-martyr St. Agnes, for whom the traditional symbol is a lamb, Pope John Paul today blessed several lambs whose wool will be used to make the palliums given every year to new metropolitan archbishops as signs of their office.

In a 1978 document, "Inter Eximina Episcopalis," Pope Paul VI restricted use of the pallium to the Pope and metropolitan archbishops, In 1984 Pope John Paul decreed that it would be conferred on the metropolitans by the Pope on the June 29th solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles.

The blessing of lambs, who are under one year of age, is traditionally celebrated on the January 21 feast of St. Agnes, who died about 350 and who is buried in the basilica named for her on Rome's Via Nomentana. The lambs are raised by Trappist Fathers of the Abbey of the Three Fountains and the palliums are made from the newly-shorn wool by the sisters of St. Cecilia.

Usually in attendance at the ceremony in the papal apartments are two Trappist Fathers, two Canons of the Chapter of St. John, the dean of the Roman Rota, two ceremonial officers and two officials from the Office of the Liturgical Ceremonies of the Supreme Pontiff.

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